Murdered Ryan's best mate is beaten up by drug dealer

The best pal of slain Real IRA chief Alan Ryan was given a severe beating by a drugs trafficker who is suspected of having paid into a "gangland kitty" for the 2012 murder.

Exact details of the incident remained sketchy last night as the matter has not been reported to gardai.

However, sources say the attack could lead to increased tensions between dissident republicans and the drugs gang that had Ryan murdered.

The heavily-tattooed 32-year-old thug, whose life has been in danger since Ryan was shot dead, is understood to have been confronted by a dangerous Donaghmede dealer.

A few words were exchanged, a brutal fight ensued and Ryan's pal received a severe hiding.

An upsurge in activities associated with Ryan's mob has been noticed in recent weeks, with some of his closest associates observed walking the streets in what is described as a show of strength.

monitoring

It has also emerged that gardai are monitoring whether the IRA are planning a new terrorist attack despite the fact that most of its senior members are before the courts on serious charges.

Despite this, the mob that had Ryan shot dead in September 2012 thought nothing of beating up his best mate who fled to Dublin's south inner city after the high-profile killing.

The Coolock drugs gang, who are headed up by a so-called Mr Big, continue to be hugely active and are involved in a number of intimidation rackets including one against a bar worker following a dispute over the Christmas period.

It is understood that the drug dealer who beat up Ryan's pal paid €20,000 into a gangland kitty of more than €200,000 organised by north Dublin gangsters who decided to murder the dissident leader because he had been extorting money from them.